Thursday's letters: Special interests

Published: Thursday, September 26, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 3:46 p.m.

To the editor: Of the 20 poorest states according to the U.S. Census Bureau, those with the lowest median incomes, 15 voted Republican in 2012, including North Carolina, the 13th poorest state. These are the states that are most likely to have citizens without health insurance, that receive the largest food stamp benefits and that receive more federal dollars than they pay in federal income taxes.

These 20 states have 127 Republican members of the U.S. House versus 45 Democratic members. These Republican members comprise 55 percent of the total Republican House members. Yet all of the House Republicans in these states voted recently to defund Obamacare and most, if not all, voted to cut 4 million people off food stamps starting in 2014.

These Republicans are also the members who refuse to consider an increase in the minimum wage and who want lower taxes for the higher income earners, most of whom live in other, frequently Democratic-voting, states. Go figure.

The tea party may be part of the cause of this dichotomy, but the real cause is probably the corruptive influence of special interest money in politics, mainly due to the Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case.

Ron Davis

Flat Rock

Wrong way

To the editor: I have noticed a dangerous traffic trend frequently happening on King Street and Church Street in downtown Hendersonville. Both streets are one-way and flank Main Street, with King Street going north and Church Street going south. Three times over the past few months and twice in the past two days, I have witnessed cars traveling the wrong direction down King or Church. Two of these times, cars were heading directly toward me, almost causing an accident.

This is an extremely dangerous problem because even though cars typically travel at slow speeds on these streets, they both have heavy traffic throughout the day. When a wreck does occur because of a car going the wrong direction, many people could potentially be involved. I personally know people who have been hit by a car going the wrong way on one of these streets, and the wreck caused serious health problems.

Why does this keep happening? Are one-way signs at each intersection not sufficient to prevent cars from going the wrong way? Are traffic offenders people from out of town who are unfamiliar with downtown street patterns? In any case, this is a serious matter that needs to be fixed.

Luke Dennison

Hendersonville

Two thumbs up

To the editor: Here comes the judge!

Steve Franks, former District Court judge and candidate for Hendersonville mayor on Oct. 8, is all for challenging the status quo.

This includes improving parking in our downtown area, upgrading Seventh Avenue, and reinstating “walking the beat” by police officers to create safer and friendlier neighborhoods. Additionally, he is in favor of implementing the 17-mile bike and hike trail from the city to Pisgah Forest on the unused railway tracks. Steve also wants to reduce city impact fees to attract new businesses. All proposals are without raising taxes.

Improving our community is always a plus. A vote for Steve Franks for mayor is a vote for Hendersonville improvements.

<p>To the editor: Of the 20 poorest states according to the U.S. Census Bureau, those with the lowest median incomes, 15 voted Republican in 2012, including North Carolina, the 13th poorest state. These are the states that are most likely to have citizens without health insurance, that receive the largest food stamp benefits and that receive more federal dollars than they pay in federal income taxes.</p><p>These 20 states have 127 Republican members of the U.S. House versus 45 Democratic members. These Republican members comprise 55 percent of the total Republican House members. Yet all of the House Republicans in these states voted recently to defund Obamacare and most, if not all, voted to cut 4 million people off food stamps starting in 2014.</p><p>These Republicans are also the members who refuse to consider an increase in the minimum wage and who want lower taxes for the higher income earners, most of whom live in other, frequently Democratic-voting, states. Go figure.</p><p>The tea party may be part of the cause of this dichotomy, but the real cause is probably the corruptive influence of special interest money in politics, mainly due to the Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United case.</p><p><em>Ron Davis</em></p><p><em>Flat Rock</em></p><h3>Wrong way</h3>
<p>To the editor: I have noticed a dangerous traffic trend frequently happening on King Street and Church Street in downtown Hendersonville. Both streets are one-way and flank Main Street, with King Street going north and Church Street going south. Three times over the past few months and twice in the past two days, I have witnessed cars traveling the wrong direction down King or Church. Two of these times, cars were heading directly toward me, almost causing an accident.</p><p>This is an extremely dangerous problem because even though cars typically travel at slow speeds on these streets, they both have heavy traffic throughout the day. When a wreck does occur because of a car going the wrong direction, many people could potentially be involved. I personally know people who have been hit by a car going the wrong way on one of these streets, and the wreck caused serious health problems.</p><p>Why does this keep happening? Are one-way signs at each intersection not sufficient to prevent cars from going the wrong way? Are traffic offenders people from out of town who are unfamiliar with downtown street patterns? In any case, this is a serious matter that needs to be fixed.</p><p><em>Luke Dennison</em></p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p><h3>Two thumbs up</h3>
<p>To the editor: Here comes the judge!</p><p>Steve Franks, former District Court judge and candidate for Hendersonville mayor on Oct. 8, is all for challenging the status quo.</p><p>This includes improving parking in our downtown area, upgrading Seventh Avenue, and reinstating walking the beat by police officers to create safer and friendlier neighborhoods. Additionally, he is in favor of implementing the 17-mile bike and hike trail from the city to Pisgah Forest on the unused railway tracks. Steve also wants to reduce city impact fees to attract new businesses. All proposals are without raising taxes.</p><p>Improving our community is always a plus. A vote for Steve Franks for mayor is a vote for Hendersonville improvements.</p><p>Two thumbs up for Steve Franks for mayor on Oct. 8!</p><p><em>Lynda Erwin and</p><p>Bonnie Wilson</p><p><em>Hendersonville</em></p>